Bottle ejecting and delivering mechanism



Aug. 6, 1940. J. R. DOSTAL 2,210,530

BOTTLE- EJECTING AND DELIVER ING MEUHANISM Filed May 15, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 F6 IHVEIl'tEII" J.R.Dc15ta1 Aug."6,1940. J. R. DOSTALBOTTLE-EJECTING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventmr' 'JRIImstal IIIIJIIIIIII 'll/1m Patented Aug.6,1940 a 2,210,530 no'r'ru-i EJEcTmG AND DEIJVERING MECHANISM.

John R. Dostal. Mllwaukeeywis assignor, by direct and-meme assignments,to Sturdy-Bilt Equipment Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 15, 194i], Serial No. 335,281

ilClaims.

This invention appertains to bottle-washing machines, and moreparticularly to means for automatically receiving and carryin bottlesfrom the machine after thewashing operation,

'52. and' is an improvement over my application Serial No. 237,872,filed Octber31; 1938, now

Patent No. 2,191,227.

One of the primary objects of my present in-.

vention is to provide means for positively holding -1G,-..andlalining atransverse row of the bottle neck the conveyor themselves. This oftenresults in slight improper alining of the cups or sockets for the bottlenecks with the ejecting plungers.

25 r -'-l,"heref ore, it isa prime object of the invention to providetransversely alined guide and holding rollers carried by the sides ofthe machine above theconveyor guide tracks for en-- easin the oppositesides of a conveyor flight 30 directly above the ejecting plunger-s,whereby to hold the flight properly centralized and to prevent side,play between the conveyor flight and the walls of the machine, wherebyprop'er movement of the. ejector plungers through the sockets, cups,

as, "or pockets is assured.

' 'wAs pointed out in my mentioned patent, an

important feature is the formation of the ejector plup'gers, so=astocause the tilting of the bottles toward the tra'nsfertable or cradle..However, spite of-this novel formation of plunger, some bottles(possibly due to irregular neck formation) willtilt-in the-wrongdirection. t' I t is, therefpreranotherent object of myinventionto'provlde inclined cam shoes for en.-

lii? Easing -the;conveyor. whereby tocause the con-' veyorfllghtpositionediabove the ejector piungers to--tilt toward the transfer-tableor cradle, so that when thespeclally constructed plungers en- 1 gageandraise the bottles," the tilting and falling whereof-9n the table ,orcradle is insured.

' Likewise. in my mentioned patent, the transfer table-or cradlewasbuiltto successfully handle bottlesoflvarylng sizes(such as fromtwelve:

. I, punce bottleato-twenty-four or thirty-s'ix-ounce asi'bpttleslflowever, where the bottleswere of a (or 198-20) a very small size (suchas miniature or individual bottles commonly employed for grape juice,to-'' mato juice, and the like), the same would fall] off the front ofthe transfer table or cradle prior to the'swinging of the table orcradle. 5 A further important object; therefore, of my present inventionis the provision of an adjustable member associated with the transfertable or cradle in a novel manner,'whereby the same can be'broughtinstantly into play when small 10 bottles are being washed, sothat-these bottles can be properly held on the 'transfer cradle or tableagainst falling oil the same.

with these and other objects in view the invention consists in thehovelconstruction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as' will behereinafter more specifically described,-claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, top, plan view of a bottle-washing machine,illustrating the delivery end thereof, and showing my novel featuresincorporated therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through'themachine, taken on the line 2- of Figure 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, showing the conveyor flight posh tioned above the ejectingplungers tilted toward the transfer table.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the movement of thetransfer table or cradle for positioning the bottles upright on the conveyor for carrying the bottles from the-machine. Figure '4 is anenlarged, fragmentary, detail,

sectional view: through-thetransfer'table or cradle, illustrating theadjustable means assoelated therewith for permitting the handling ofminiature bottles-thereby. 2

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view through the transfertable orcradle, .taken on the line 5-5 40 of Figure 1, looking in the directionof the arrows, illustrating'the means for adjustably holding the smallbottle 'attachmenton the table or cradle. I r f Figure 6 is afragmentary, detail, perspective view of the small bottle attachment perse.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse, sectional view takenthrough the machine on the line I -l of Figure 1, looking in thedirection oi the arrows, illustrating the means for properly. aliningandholding a conveyor; flight above the ejecting plungers. 3 Figure 8 is adetail, perspective view of one of the cam shoes'employed for tiltingthe conveyor flight positioned above the ejecting plungers towardthe'transfer table.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter B generally indicates one form of a bottlewashing machine,and it is to be understood that the various features of my presentinvention are applicable to numerous types of bottle-washing vided withequidistantly spaced pockets, sockets,

or cups l5 for the reception of the necks of inverted bottles. The cupsor sockets are of such a form as to allow cleansing fluid to be sprayedinto the bottles by stationary nozzles as the flights travel over thenozzles.

The portion of the bottle machine illustrated constitutes the dischargeend where the bottles are removed after the same have passed through themachine and have been subjected to the various cleansing operations.'The conveyor 13 can also,include guide rollers l6 for the rafls of theguide tracks 12. The endless conveyor is moved tioned adjacent theplungers chine. Pivotally connected faces of the troughs 23 are 7described.

.the plungers l1 intermittently over the tracks, and the means forintermittently feeding the conveyor forms no part of the presentinvention and is well known to those skilled in'the art. Hence, thefeeding means has not been illustrated and will not be At a suitablepoint in the machine where it is desired to remove the bottles,following the washing-operations, a plurality of transversely alinedplungers l'l arenormally disposed below the top run of the conveyor, andwhen a flight is stopped, I are adapted to move upwardly through thesockets or cups in the flight which has been stopped directly above thesame.

The plungers I! can be carried in any desired manner and can be operatedin any preferred way, and a is to be understood that these plungers canbe operated in the same way as shown in my patent, which meanssimultaneously elevates and lowers the plungers when the alined flightis at rest between its intermittent movement.

As shown in Figure 4, the upper ends of the plungers l1 are'providedwith nozzles l8, which extend into the mouths of the bottles to alinethe same on the plungers. The plungers are cut away on one side, as atis, so that as the necks of the bottles are elevated by the plungersabove the sockets or cups IS, the bottles will tilt in the direction ofthe cut-away portion, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of thedrawings. Posil! is a bottle-trans:- fer mechanism, which can be of thesame type as shown in my patent. Hence, the transfer mechanism includesa transversely extending support 20 rigidly connected with the casing ofthe mato the support, as at 2|, and normally resting thereon is theswinging transfer table 22. This table carries a plurality ofbottle-receiving troughs 23, which are positioned in longitudinalalinement with the bottle neck receiving cups'or sockets I5. The innerpreferably lined with rubber pads 24 for receiving the bottles from theplungers 11, as indicated in dotted linesin Figjtnother and with 29.Consequently, therollers 32 be seen that upon the elevation of theplunger I! the bottles will be raised from the cups or sockets of theconveyor flight, and, as the necks are released, gravity will cause thebottles to tilt and be deposited upon the transfer table 22. The tableis then elevated on its pivotal connection to the position shown inFigure 3, which causes the bottles to gradually slide downwardly in thetroughs onto the conveyor 25. The table carries the tilting carriage 26for shoving the bottles against the rubber abutment wall 21. arrangedalong one side of the conveyor 25. The tilting carriage 23 is normallyurged toward the wall 21 when the table is in its raised position by theweights 28. This tilting construction is also shown in the patent.

'In some instances, possibly due to irregularities in bottlenecks, thebottles tilt to one side or the other and do not fall into the troughs23 of the table 22 .upon the raising of the plungers II. In accordancewith my present invention, I secure upon the tracks l2 rigid cam shoes29. These cam shoes. are arranged in transverse alinement and includefront inclined approaches 30 and downwardly inclined rear faces 3|. Therearwardly inclined faces 3| are positioned in transverse alinement withthe ejecting plungers I'I.

Hence, "as the flights I4 of the conveyor l3 ride up upon the cam shoesand then reach the downwardly inclined rear faces 3|, the flight restingupon the inclined rear faces 3| will tilt toward the transfer table.

' Thus, before the bottles are released from the cups or sockets I 5,the same correct tilted position, and, consequently,.upon the raising ofthe ejecting plungers, as shown in Figure 2, the bottles will be raisedfrom the cups or sockets in their tilted position toward the are alreadyin a transfer table by the shape of the upper ends of the plungers.Consequently, by providing the cam shoes 29, the correct tilting andfalling of the bottles into the troughs on the transfer table isassured.

Due to play in the conveyor l3 and play between the conveyor and thetracks l2 and the side walls ID of the casing, it so happens that insome instances the flights, as they stop in their movement, will not beproperly alined with the plungers ll or with the troughs on the transfertable; In order to bring about the guiding of the flights to a correctposition and the holding of the flights against movement during theoperation of the ejecting plungers, Iprovide guide and steadying rollers32 on each side of the easing of the machine. These rollers 32 aredisposed in a horizontal plane and are rotatably mounted upon stud bolts33 carried by brackets 34 bolted or otherwise secured to the outer facesof the side walls In of the casing. These rollers are. arranged intransverse alinement with one the centers of the cam shoes will engagethe pivot studs employed for connecting adjacent flights I! together,and as the rollers 32 engage the opposite sides of the conveyor, theflights will v Q intermittently movable conveyor provided withingplungers I'I. Q

The bottle-washing machines have the transfer tables-so constructed asto handle bottles of varying sizes. Generally, bottles run fromtwelve-ounce to quart sizes and larger. The

transfer tables will effectively handle bottles of I However, where itbecomes neces-- these sizes. I sary to wash miniature or smallindividual bottles, such as are employed by grape juice and tomate juicemanufacturers, the transverse center. of such small bottles will bedisposed in advance of the forward edge of the transfer table. Thus.such small bottles will be overbala-nced at their front ends,-and willfall off the transfer table.

I In accordance with my invention, I provid means 35 associated with thetransfer table for supporting relatively small bottles, so that 'thetransfer table can effectively handle such bottles. By referring toFigures 4 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that such means 35 includes aplate 36,

which extends transversely across the machine at the front of thetransfer table. The ends of the plate 36 carry rearwardly extending,angleshaped arms 31. The plate and the arms are adapted to slide in andout on the table, and are held in an adjusted position by means ofadjustable bolts 33, which extend through'the sides of the tiltingcarriage 26 and through slots 39 formed in the angle-shape arms 31.

The front edge of the plate 36 carries upstanding, V-shaped, supportingguards 40. These V- shaped guards 40 are disposed directly in front ofand in alinement with the V-shaped-troughs 23.

In Figure 4, a small bottle is shown in dotted lines, and in order tosupport this small'bottle,

the member 35 is slid forwardly so that the V- shaped supports 40 willrest under the bottle :41 necks. Obviously, then, the bottle necks andthe bodies of the bottles will be supported, and the small bottles willnot rock or tilt on the transfer table. During-the handlingof largeibOttlGS, the

supporting mechanism 35 can he slid in'on the transfer table against theforward edge of the tilting carriage 26. I

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have providednovel means for insuring the proper tilting of the bottles toward thetransfer carriage or table and the proper holding of the conveyorflights relative to the ejecting plungers and the troughs on thetransfer table and that I have also provided novel means for thetransfer table.

permitting the handling of miniature bottles by Changes in details maybe made without detion, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a bottle-washing machine including an hollo'w sockets for thereception of the necks o inverted bottles, said conveyor having-ahorizontel run, a bottle-delivery-mechanism comprising,

.a delivery conveyor, a plurality of plungers, for

I projecting bottles from'the sockets, atransfer veyor'intermediate theends of the horizontal run- 1 and adjacent the transfer mechanism forcaus ing the sockets in front of the transfer mechanism to tilttowardsaid transfer mechanism, whereby upon the lifting of the bottlesbythe on said transfer mechanism,

' plunger's-in the tilted sockets the bottles will mu 2. In abottle-washing machine including an mechanism extending transverselyacross the conveyor, means for raising the bottles out of the bottleneck receiving means on the flights, a transfer mechanism for receivingejected bottles anddepositing the same upon the delivering mechanism,and means for tilting the flights of the horizontal run of the conveyorintermediate the ends 'of the horizontal run towardthetransfer mechanismasthe flights come to rest in front of the transfer mechanism, whereby,upon the raising of the bottles in the tilted flights the bottles willfall on said transfer mechanism.

3. In a bottle-washing machine including an intermittently movableconveyor provided with a pluralityof pivotally connected flights havinghollow sockets for the receiving necks of inverted bottles, abottle-delivery mechanism. extending transversely across the machine, aplurality of plungers for projecting bottles from said sockets, atransfer mechanism for receiving the ejected bottles and for depositingthe bottles upon the delivering mechanism, and cam shoes arranged intransverse aliner'nent disposed on opposite sides of the machine fortilting the flights toward'the transfer mechanism as the flights come torest in front of said transfermechanism. a

4. Inla bottleashing machine including an intermittently movableconveyor provided with flights having hollow sockets for thereceptionextending transversely across the conveyor,

. means for ejecting bottles from the sockets,

means for receiving the ejected bottles and for depositing the same uponthe delivering mechanism, and means arranged in frontof the receivingmeans projecting toward and engaging the ends of a flight directly infront of the receiving means forcentering and holding the flightsrelative to the ejecting mechanism and the transfer mechanism as theflights come to rest in'front of the transfer mechanism.

5. In a bottle-washing machine including an intermittentlymovable'conveyor provided with a plurality-of pivotally connectedflights having 'hollow socketsfor the reception of inverted' bottles, abottle delivery. mechanism extending across the conveyor, a plurality ofplungers for projecting bottles .from said sockets, a transfer mechanismfor receiving the ejected bottles and for depositing the bottles uponthe delivery mechanism', and guide and centering rollers carried by theopposite sides of the machinean'd arranged intransverse alinement; infront of the transfer mechanism'pr'ojecting towardthe sides of theconveyor and engaging the opposite sides of the conveyor' for holding aflight with its sock-- ets properly centered in front of the transfermechanism.

6. In .a bottle-washing machine including an intermittently movableconveyor provided with a plurality of pivotaliy connected flights havinghollow sockets for the; reception of inverted bottles, a bottle-deliverymechanism extending across the conveyor, a plurality of plungers forprojecting bottles from said sockets, 'a transfer mechanism forreceiving the ejected bottles and for depositing the bottles upon thedelivery mechanism, guide and centering rollers carriedby the oppositesides of the machine and arranged in transvers alinement .for engagingthe opposite sides of the conveyor for holding a flight with its socketsproperly centered in front of the transfer mechanism, and means fortilting the flight centered by said rollers! -7. In a bottle-washingmachine, a movable conveyor for receiving bottles being washed, abottle-delivering mechanism extending across the conveyor, means-forejecting bottles from the conveyor, a transfer mechanism including atable having a plurality of troughs for receiving the ejected bottlesand for depositing the same upon the delivering mechanism, means on-thefront of the table for engaging the necks of the bottles. and means foradjustably supporting said bottle neck-engaging means on the table.

8. In a bottle-washing machine, a movable arms engaging the oppositesides of the table,

means adjustably connecting the arms to the table, and V-shapedsupports'on the front edge of the plate movable with the plate and armstoward and away from the troughs.

JOHN. R. DOSTAL.

